Ricerc@Sapienza

Vigilance decrement is a relevant problem in critical contexts requiring occasional response after a prolonged period of inactivity. Although many studies describe boredom as the leading cause in depleting attentional resources, the understanding of its relationship with human performance has been limited by the unavailability of objective measures. This study attempts to overcome this limitation by focusing on fidgeting (namely, repetitive and involuntary body movements) as a behavioural correlate of boredom.

This paper aims to root the question of nihilism in a lived experience. By examining the (almost hidden) presence of Qoehlet in contemporary phenomenology it is possible to find in boredom the actual Erlebnis of meaninglessness and to bring out its fundamental methodological function. This implies a criticism of Heidegger’s privilege of Angst, which appears to be lacking in phenomenological concreteness.